Highway traffic guard



April 6, 1948, E. v. cAMP HIGHWAY TRAFFIC GUARD Filed Jan. 2, 1942 gwuinhw,

Patented Apr. 6,4 1948 i 2,438,991 HIGHWAY TRAFFIC GUARD Eugene V. Camp, Atlanta, Ga.

Application January 2, 1942, Serial No. 425,445

(ci. 25e-13.1)

15 Claims. 1 This invention relates to highway guard rails, and more particularly to a new and improved safety device of the plate type.

Heretofore certain structures technically classified as full iioatingA have been proposed, these embodying essentially a supporting post, a circular annular sp-ring attached thereto, and an impact member associated with said spring as by means of a clip, an alleged free movement of the impact member in relation to its supporting means being thereby provided..

In operation, certain deficiencies have been observed in structures of this design due to the fact that upon impact the rail y tends to be forced sharply inwardly and to; partially simulate the contour of the circular spring members at the posts, the result being to impart appreciable jolt and jar to an impacting vehicle as it glides by these points, and even in some instances to hang the vehicle up at such locations. In other cases the rail member may tend to freeze under impact instead of sliding in its intended manner, lche result then being to reduce considerably the effective resiliency of the assembly, and even to rupture the rail because of its inability to function in its intended `manner in cooperation with the other elements.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a trafiic guard the impact member of which has a pivoted guiding clip attached to its supporting bracket and in effect pivots adjacent the posts during operation, thereby reducing potential sharp bumps at these points and providing a Ismooth gliding approach thereto under impact.

Another object is to provide a guard rail in which the inherent resiliency of both impact member and supporting springs or brackets is fully taken advantage of during operation.

A still further object is to provide economy of manufacture and simplicity of construction in a device of the instant type.

Another object is to provide eii'iciency of function and economy of maintenance in a highway guard rai-l.

These and other objects made apparent during the further progress of this speciiicati-on are effected by the instant invention, a full and complete understanding of which is facilitated by reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an assembled guard rail embracing my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view at one of the intermediate posts suggested in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View of the structure disclosed in Fig. 2, as same operates under impact;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View of the structure shown in Fig. 1, same being taken through the approximate center thereof;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the structure of Fig. 2 taken along the line 5--5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. Gais a vertical sectional view of the structure of Fig. 2 taken through the.4 approximate center thereof;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the blanks from which may be formed the spring connector ele,- ments of my guard rail;

Fig. 8 is an alternate form of one of the clip members which I employ, together with its asso'- ciated rail element; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of an alternate form of blank which may be employed in forming appropriate connector elements for my guard rail structure.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the instant device contemplates a series of posts or supports Il] to which are attached curved spring elements II through bolts I2 and nuts I3. Elements I I may be formed from a blank of suitable metal and provided at theirl ends with a series of prongs I4 (Fig. 7) which are in turn carried around through a suitable arc to form a series of staggered fingers I5 (Figs. 5 and. 6).

An alternate form of blank is suggested in Fig. 9 in which prongs I6 are substantially rectangular in form, the resulting finger structure in either case being substantially identical from a functional standpoint.

A sheet metal plate member II is attach-ed to springs I I through an intermediate clip I3, said clip comprising a fiat strip of metal having its ends carried around as at I9 and 2Ilfor the purpose of providing channels in which element I'I may ride, it being contemplated that the distance between I'9 and 20 and the face of clip I8 shall be such as to permit a snug but free engagement of the rail with the clip, y

A series of indentations 2| are struck in l the face of clip I8 as by means of pressure applied to a suitable die, said indentations being so spaced as to register with the fingers of elementv II. A pair of bolt or pintle-like members 22 (Figs. 2 and 6) is then passed downwardly through alternate fingers of spring I I and interlocking indentations of clip I8, with the result that the clip becomes in effect pivotally mounted with the connector at these points.A As stated heretofore, the impact member I'I is then passed through the clips at the posts.

The ends of given assemblies may be provided with coil springs 23 operating on bolts 24 in such manner as to place the entire assembly in longitudinal tension; and suitable anchoring and bracing elements such as 25 may likewise be employed.

To facilitate erection as when impact member l1 is brought to the field in long rolls or coils, as is often the case, a modified form of clip Iii may be employed, such a structure being disclosed in Fig. 8 and contemplating the making of such element in two pieces la and |311 instead of one, it being apparent that when this is done one-half of the clip may be put in place, the impact mem.- ber reeled out and associated with said half, and the other portion of the clip then being 'brought into engagement with the opposite edge .of the rail, this arrangement making it possible to .erect long assemblies Without difficulties that otherwise might exist in threading through unitary clips previously in place.

-F 1.`.0m the foregoing description it is believed that the operation .of my device will be clear to those skilled in the art, it being .apparent that when a Vehicle hits the traffic guard (see Fig. 3) a pivotal motion is at .once set up between the impact member and the spring connector, the arm nearest the impacting force tending to turn inwardly and the opposite .arm acting as a ful,- crum around which turns a section of :the ,rail and its Aassociated clip, there being thereby ef- A,fected a smooth gliding approach at the supports instead of a rigid bump. The impacting vehicle .is thereby enabled to pass successive `posts with a minimum of .damage until such time 4as spend is reduced and the driver given an .opportunity to again get the car under control. The entire -cperation is .a .smooth .and natural Vone in which the inherent resiliency of .al1 members of the assembly perform to their best advantage.

Further, the various elements of .the instant device .may be eas-,ily .stamped out, thereby guaranteeing ,economy in manufacture; and replacement of damaged parts is likewise .eiiicient and simple.

-In the light f the foregoing. :it 4is submitted that the instant traffic guard represents .a novel .and meritorious contribution to -the .guard rail art, and `as such, warrants an interpretation of the appended claims fairly in keeping with such contribution.

I claim:

1. In a trafc guard -of the character described, a series of supports, curved spring .brackets mounted on said supports, ac lip pivotally united with the :front por-tions .of saidbrackets, and an impact member carried by :said clip in sliding relationship therewith.

2. In a tramo guard -of the character described, @series of supports. lspring brackets mounted on said supports, a -clip pit/@tally united with the iront portions .of said brackets, .and all .impact member carried by said clip -i-n ,sliding ,relationship therewith. Y

1.1.1 a tradi@ guard 0i the charactsrdescribcd. d Sllds 0f Supports, spr-ing brackets .mounted on said supports, a clip pivotally united with the iront port-ions yof .said brackets, and a nexible resi-lient impact V.Iiierrlber carried by .said clip in .sliding relationship therewith.

fi. .In -a trafc guard of the character described,

a series. 0f supports, curved spring brackets a series of supports, spring brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said brackets being formed to provide a series of staggered iingers, clips adjacent the front faces of said brackets, curved indentations in said clips positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings of said lingers, pintle members passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the clips with the spring brackets, and an impact member carried by the clips in sliding relationship therewith.

6. In a traic guard of the character described, a series of supports, curved spring brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said brackets being formed to provide a series of staggered circular fingers, clips adjacent the front faces of said brackets, curved indentations in said cli-ps, said indentations having generally vertically extending apertures therein and being positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings of said fingers, pintle members passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally `mounting the clips with the spring brackets., .and an impact member carried by the clipsin sliding relationship therewith.

7. In a traflic guard .of the character described, a series of supports, spring brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said brackets .being formed to provide a series of staggered pintle bearings, clips adjacent the front faces of said brackets, curved indentations in said clips positioned .in interlacing relationship with the open- `ings .of said pintle bearings, pintle members passed through said openings and indentations,

thereby pivotally mounting the clips with the spring brackets, and an impact member carried by the .clips in sliding relationship therewith.

8. In a .trac guard .of the character described, .a .series `of supports, spring ybrackets mounted .on said supports, .the front Vportions .of said brackets being formed to provide a series of staggered Vpintle bearings, clips Vadjacent the front faces of said brackets, .curved indentations in said clips .positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings .of said pintle bearings, pintle members passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the clips with the vspring brackets, and .a sheet metal impact member carried by the clips in sliding relationship therewith.

49. In a traillc guard of the character described, .a ser-ies .of supports, spring brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said :brackets .being formed to .provide a series of staggered pintle bearings, clips adjacent the front faces of said brackets, curved indentations in vsaid clips positioned in interlacing relationship with the .Openings of ysaid pintle bearings, pintle members `passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the clips with the spring brackets, and an impact member .carried by the clips in sliding relationship therewith.

Y1.0. In a ,traiiic guard of the character described, a .series of supports, spring .brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said brackets being formed to provide a series of staggered pintle bearings, clips adjacent Vthe front faces of .said brackets, said clips having separable upper and lower portions, curved indentations in said clips positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings of said pintle bearings, pintle members passed through said .openings :and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the Vclips with the spring brackets, and

an impact member carried by the clips in sliding relationship therewith.

11. In a traic guard of the character described, a series of supports, spring brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said brackets being formed to provide a series of staggered pintle bearings, said pintle bearings being of uniform width throughout, clips adjacent the front faces of said brackets, curved indentations in said clips positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings of said pintle bearings, pintle members passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the clips with the spring brackets, and an impact member carried by the clips in sliding relationship therewith.

12. In a traffic guard of the character described, a series of supports, spring brackets mounted on said supports, the front portions of said brackets being formed to provide a series of staggered pintle bearings, said pintle bearings having points of maximum width at their bases and narrowing at their ends, clips adjacent the front faces of said brackets, curved indentations in said clips positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings of said pintle bearings, pintle members passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the clips with the brackets, and an impact member carried by the clips in sliding relationship therewith.

13. A highway guard rail tting comprising a curved spring bracket having a rear or support engaging surface and oppositely disposed lwinglike front portions, said front portions being formed to provide a series of staggered pintle bearings at the ends thereof, a clip associated with said front portions, curved indentations in said `clip positioned in registering relationship with the openings of said pintle bearings, and pintle members passed through said openings and indentations, thereby pivotally mounting the clip with the spring bracket.

14. A highway guard rail fitting comprising a spring bracket having a rear or support engaging surface and oppositely disposed wing--like front portions, a series of staggered pintle bearings formed in the ends of said front portions, a clip adjacent the front portions of said brackets, curved indentations in said clip positioned in interlacing relationship with the openings of said pintle bearings, and means for pivotally mounting the clip with the spring bracket.

15. A highway guard rail fitting comprising a ring-like spring bracket having a rear or post engaging surface and oppositely disposed `winglike front portions, a series of pintle bearings formed in opposite ends of said front portions, and a clip pivotally mounted with said bearings adjacent the front of said bracket.

EUGENE V. CAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,655,802 Stratinsky Jan. 10, 1928 1,977,286 Miller Oct. 16, 1934 2,007,467 Campbell July 9, 1935 2,030,783 Dennebaum Feb. 11, 1936 2,056,858 Irons et al Oct. 6, 1936 2,167,635 Camp Aug. 1, 1939 2,321,988 Brinkman June 15, 1943 

